New Year's Eve is almost here and Italy is ready to party for the Capodanno or Notte di San Silvestro.As you can imagine a MAGNIFICENT dinner is what makes our night special and, as always, we have so many ways to ask the GOOD SPIRITS to help us beginning the new Year in the right way, and most of all, HAVE A RICH NEW YEAR.

So, once again, here is all you should do to make the 2014 the most lucky of you life!

I just came back from the States, where all the people, after the big Halloween night, are ready to celebrate the Thanksgiving day. And one of the question was...do you celebrate it in Italy, right?NOPE! I'm sorry, but that's YOUR celebration. No THANKSGIVING here. No turkeys killing here.

So what we celebrate if not Thanksgiving? Here you'll find all our festivities!

There is one word that is worldwide known, and that is a kind of motto for the Italian expats and it's MANGIA.MANGIA (Eat) is Italian Mothers' and Grandmothers' favorite word.That you are eating like a little bird, or like a hoover, it doesn't matter. When you sit at an Italian table, you will hear this word at least one time (if you're lucky).Many think it's just because our mothers love us, or because they always see us like a child in need to grow up, or because of our sense of hospitality.

“I’m Italian.” “Lucky you. That means you date Italian men!!!”During my life I’ve heard this hundreds of times.And, being Italian, my answer wouldn’t be so enthusiastic. The first thought of every Italian woman, would be –Yes, and I’m tired of all the “Ciao Bella” in the street - they’re just pathetic.But, I must admit, Italians have their charm. And after visiting many countries abroad I probably got why they are worldwide recognized to be the best lovers.

In Italy August 10th is a special night; it’s the night we spend looking at the dark sky, praying to see a shooting star, or maybe more, because every star is a dream that come true.

Yes, it’ s magic, romantic, unforgettable night. People reunite on the beach or up on the hills, with just a blanket and maybe a guitar, wherever it is dark enough not to lose neither a star.

Even if science states these are just asteroids belonging to the Perseo constellation, for us these are the stars that remind us of the San Lorenzo martyrdom; they are the tears he cried and that fall from the sky on his death’s anniversary to give us hope. We believe in fact that the dreams of those who remember the Saint and see a shooting star will come true during the year.

So if you’re in Italy during this night, don’t miss it.

If you really want to feel like an Italian, find a dark place, take your blanket and turn your eyes skyward; and as you see a shooting star make your wish and say “Stella, mia bella stella, desidero che…” – Star, my beautiful star, I desire that…”

Obviously it has to remain secret…and your dreams will come true.

I wish you all a wonderful San Lorenzo night, that it brings you all you desire!

La Bocca della Verità (the Mouth of Truth) is an image of stone, of a man-like face, located by thechurch of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome and it portrays one of several pagan gods, probably Oceanus.

What many probably don't know is that at the ancient roman time, it was a drain cover.

During the Middle Ages a new legend was created;Virgilio Grammatico, a wizard, would have build it to uncover husbands and wifes' adultery; once introducing an hand in the mouth, it would have been bitten off if the person was an adulterer.

After the post "How Italians say I love you" it came the time for you to discover how Italian lovers call each other. For real, Italian has a endless fantasy in finding new sweet nicknames for the loved one, but here are the most common and used (and funny)!Enjoy!

Yes, Italians are superstitious. Forgive us. We know it could make no sense, we know it can seem silly, we know it's not rational. But, as we say, "Non è vero ma ci credo" (It's not true but I believe in it"), considering life is already complicated, why taking the risk of the bad luck when we can try to escape it?

Here you find our most famous superstitions and what to do - when possibile- to avoid the bad luck, that we call SFORTUNA, SFIGA, IELLA ( the famous MALOCCHIO is a totally different matter, but it could be the cause of our bad luck).

In general, the gestures that are always welcome against the back luck are the sign of the HORNS (saying TIE'), touching something made of IRON and men use to touch their TESTICLES.

Salento is the south-eastern extremity of the Puglia region. Salento peninsula is a rock of limestone dividing the Adriatic Sea from the Ionian Sea.
Salento's coasts are varied, and can be sandy or rocky, but all boast pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters.